Cross Stitch Update

Here are the projects I finished in August, with one exception (which needs another photo).  I plan to do another post soon on my current works-in-progress, which are many!


I decorated my mantle with a nautical theme for August.  This is "The Guardians of the Sea", a free pattern by The Little Stitcher.  Sadly, I forgot to take a photo of it before I had framed it, so there is a glare.  It is a small pattern that fits nicely in a 4 x 4 frame.  I love the colors!

 The September theme is "apples", and I am still busily stitching apple patterns.  It is another freebie, this time from Rainbow Gallery.  This was my first time making satin stitches!

 This cutie is a mini-pattern from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery, called the Bee Keeper.  I loved stitching it, and am trying to think of a creative way to frame it for the kitchen.

OctoFail

I am going to have a nautical theme for my August mantle.  I have a ship cross-stitched from about 25 years ago, but wanted at least one more piece.  I found this simple but striking free pattern and was immediately struck by it.

I decided to use variegated floss for the first time. I did okay with it, but not great.  I guess it's a good first effort. . .  I definitely want to use it again, but will need to see if I can find some tutorials on how to stitch with it properly.

When I started on my second row of chevrons tonight, I noticed that I am somehow off a few stitches--just enough to make my chevrons uneven.  I know it can be fixed, but I'm just too disappointed to deal with it.  I'll put it aside and either find the problem later, restart it after the piece I just began, or just give it up all together.

You can't tell from this photo, but the cloth is pale blue.

Patriotic ABC's by JBW Designs

I finished this beauty early Friday morning, after an all night (10:30p-6a) cross-stitching binge.  I really is a lovely piece; I find the color choice especially pleasing!

I stitched it on 14 count Aida, and it is about 13" x 3".  With such an odd size, I am not certain how I want to frame it; I balk at framing prices.  Maybe I should make it into a banner?

She has designed a few other alphabet samplers in this style (seaside, Christmas trees, hearts, reindeer).  I would like to stitch another some day.

Halloween Sampler, Completed

I finished my Halloween Sampler (designed by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery) late Tuesday night.  I don't care for Halloween, personally, and yet I love this sampler!

The beautiful cloth color was achieved by dying white Aida with Rit gray.  I used silver Kreinik for the stars of the H and W, and added it to the steel gray of the ninja's weapons.  I used a single piece of gold Kreinik with the yellow of my lightening.

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think the owls might be mine.  Or maybe the ghosts.  Or the lollipops. Or perhaps the black cat.  No, definitely the owls.  I think.

H is for Haunted

A is for Apparition

L is for Lightening

L is for Lollipop

O is for Owl

W is for Witch

E is for Eyes

E is for Eek!

N is for Ninja (costume)

Halloween Sampler, Week Two

I've been trying since Tuesday to get a photo that does justice to these colors, but keep failing!  This is the second week of The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Halloween Sampler. 

I think the owl is my favorite for this particular week, but it's always so hard to choose!

I used silver Kreinik for my stars and added iridescent Kreinik to my moon; I dyed the cloth with the soft gray Rit.  

Can't wait to see what the final week will be!

H is for Haunted House

A is for Apparition

L is for Lightning

L is for Lollipop

O is for Owl

W is for Witch

Halloween Spooky Sampler: Week One

On Tuesday, I finished the first week of the Halloween Spooky Sampler,by the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  It's going to last three weeks, a row each week.

H is for Haunted House

A is for Apparition

L is for Lightning

This was my first attempt in dying cloth; I used a Rit gray and I am so pleased at how well it did!

The silver stars are silver Kreinik, and I added gold Kreinik to my lighting.

I can't wait to see what next week's letter surprises will be!

My Friday Fives

Another week with two sick days, allergies/migraine, plus, a day off spent with Mom (always a pleasure).  As a result, I don't feel like I accomplished much this week at all.  Mom says that sometimes all one does get done is the "dailies", and that's about all it was this week.

1. Finished week three of the Summer Sampler.
2. Made homemade cream cheese brownies.
3. Did much better on taking daily photos.
4. Washed the hamster house.
5. Made a loaf of bread.

The Frapaccio is my favorite from this third week.

1. Mom's homegrown, homemade veggie soup.
2. New whisk and pint-and-a-half wide mouth mason jars!
3. Lots of help from the kitties.
4. Excellent visit with Mom.
5. Cool fruity freezer pops on hot days.

1. Wash and store the hamster house.
   Washed, but not packed away yet.  The hard part is done though!
2. Mop the kitchen floor.
   Not yet!
3. Take daily photos (I refuse to give up on this!).
   Did well this week!
4. Prepare the living room for the upcoming massive overhaul (it's going to become the office in a couple of weeks).
   =(  Drat!
5. Do something with the closet in the spare room (what, I won't know til I see just what can be done).
   Never even thought about it!

My husband is off next week, and we have super big plans!

1. Move office to living room area.
2. Move couch to "Florida room".
3. Move dining table to former office.

If we get that done, I'll be extremely happy!

1. heirloom tomatoes
2. a comfortable bed
3. Celestial Seasonings tea
4. rain
5. migraine medicine

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out My Friday Fives.

My Friday Fives (on Sunday)

Running a little bit behind this week, and I blame the heat!

We had to say goodbye to our hamster, Vinnie, this week.  He had developed some tumors, so we had him put to sleep Thursday morning.

Good night, sweet Vinnie.

1. Sorted out a box of things that had been needing sorting.
2. Sorted and donated winter coats.
3. Read and reviewed two books for the Amazon vine program. (The Book of Secrets and Becoming Myself.)
4. Freshened up the hermit crab tank with new sand and stabilized their climbing wall.
5. Completed week two of The Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler.

My husband thinks the little lantern looks like Tom Servo. :)

The strawberry jam was my favorite from this week.

1. Ordered and received a complete set of Trixie Belden mysteries!  It's a pleasure to revisit childhood favorites.
2. Jack Jack did a wonderful job of taking care of Lizzie when I accidentally hurt her.  We have the sweetest cats!
3. I spent a lot of time reading--always a pleasure!
4. Was given a book as a reward for one of my reading challenges!
5. St. John loves his toilet paper!

St. John is ten months now!

1. Find a home for the things that got stacked up on the chest freezer when the electricity went funky and the freezer was out of service. 
   Mostly accomplished.  It's not perfect, yet, but it will do for now.
2. Read at least half of one of the ARCs I need to review.
   Accomplished!  Completed and reviewed one both of the books. (second review)  Great accomplishment!
3. Return to taking my photos every day.  Trying this one again.  Photo-taking brings me joy; I want to reignite that spark.
   I accomplished three days this week, which is much better than last week!
4. Sort through the box of things that I found in the cupboard above the refrigerator (that belong to my mother-in-law from when she lived in this house a loooong time ago).
   Woot!  Done!
5. Sort through the coats for keepers and donations.
   Not only done, but took the donations on Thursday.  Still need to make a home for the winter coats, though. . . 

1. Make a home for the winter coats.
2. Wash and store the hamster house.
3. Move the tools to the basement, from the spare room.
4. Do better taking photos than I did last week.
5. Tidy up the breakfast room.

1. a quiet mind
2. air conditioning
3. iced tea
4. good childhood memories
5. fun toys to photograph 

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out My Friday Fives.

My Friday Fives

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out My Friday Fives.

Fox and Puffballs--my favorite so far!

1. Used and reviewed the gluten free sugar cookie mix I got from the Amazon Vine program.  
2. Cleaned the living room of cobwebs, as well as the living room ceiling fan--and decorated it with Washi Tape.
3. Reorganized my embroidery floss into my own system.  I'm hopeful this will work better for me! 
4. Caulked around the backstop of the tub.
   It's not pretty. . . it's not even homely (!) but it will do.  (I hope!)
5. Completed the July portion of the  The Frosted Pumpkin's Woodland Sampler.

1. Received many, MANY books in the mail this week!
2. Received several gifts of home-grown veggies: tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and peppers.  I am so blessed!
3.  I got four new, fantastic body sprays from Hip Hop Candy: Unicorn Poo, Angel Bunny, Frosted Cupcake and Sugared Bamboo.  I just adore all their fragrances--I go around spraying myself with different ones all through the day. 
4.  St. John asked for a belly rub for the first time!
5. Better electrical wiring, thanks to my husband and his friend!  Now I can use the chest freezer we bought with our income tax return!

Two ARCs from Amazon Vine and
15 vintage mysteries that were pretty much stolen from an ebay seller.

I am the half proud, half embarrassed owner of 36 cheesy romantic suspense novels by Emilie Loring. (Another shamefully cheap deal from ebay.)  Loring was one of my favorites when I was a young teen, and I've been going through a phase of wanting to read the things I enjoyed so much during my young days. Of course, the true mystery of these books will be whether or not I will admit it on here when I read one!

1. Use and review the gluten free sugar cookie mix I got from the Amazon Vine program.  Accomplished!
2. Return to taking my photos every day.
   I have really done poorly with my photos over the past few months.  Last year, I achieved nearly one photo a day.  This year, my inspiration has been much lower.  
3. Caulk around the tub.
   Accomplished! 
4. Dust away the cobwebs in the living room.
   Accomplished!
5. Complete the second week of The Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler.
   The July portion of their Woodland Sampler came, and I finished it first.

1. Find a home for the things that got stacked up on the chest freezer when the electricity went funky and the freezer was out of service. (Isn't it funny how any unused space becomes a place for stacking homeless objects?!?!)
2. Read at least half of one of the ARCs I need to review.
   Accomplished!  Completed and reviewed one both of the books. (second review) 
3. Return to taking my photos every day.  Trying this one again.  Photo-taking brings me joy; I want to reignite that spark.
4. Sort through the box of things that I found in the cupboard above the refrigerator (that belong to my mother-in-law from when she lived in this house a loooong time ago).
   Woot!  Done!
5. Sort through the coats for keepers and donations.

1. books
2. good doctors
3. medication that works
4. rainy days
5. electricity

My Friday Fives

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out My Friday Fives.

1. Finished shelving all our books on our new bookshelves.
2. Decorated my side of the bedroom shelves with Washi (like I did our hall shelves); will finish his side next week.
3. Cleaned up the hallway (though doing so created some temporary mess in other places :p).
4. Hung up a new shower curtain.
5. Finished the first week of The Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler.

I love the colors they chose, muted yet bright at the same time.  I'm glad I chose the beige Aida; it really brings the colors alive.

It's a super hard choice, but I think the kawaii guitar is my favorite from this week, mainly because I loved making his little strings.

1. SIX thunderstorms in five hours on Thursday evening.  It was lovely!
2. Won a fantastically cheap lot of vintage mysteries on ebay.
3. Won another fantastically cheap lot of vintage books on ebay.
4. Had my husband home on Monday; we celebrated our excellent dentist appointments with a Chick-fil-a milkshake. :)
5. Helped St. John catch bugs in the living room.

1. Use and review the gluten free sugar cookie mix I got from the Amazon Vine program.
2. Return to taking my photos every day.
3. Caulk around the tub. 
4. Dust the cobwebs in the living room.
5. Complete the second week of The Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler.

Thrift Store Coup and More

Our county has it's own Rescue Mission (in addition to the local chapter of the Salvation Army), and to support itself, the Rescue Mission has a thrift store.  I say "A" thrift store, but the community support is such that it has grown into eight locations, plus one in the neighboring county!  I can't imagine how many people they employee in the stores, the warehouses and as drivers (yes, they will come and PICK UP your donations for the thrift store), but they are certainly a blessing to this county.

As I have been in the (painfully slow) process of decluttering our home over the past two years, we have donated untold amounts of clothing, toys, housewares and the like.  It makes me feel good to know that my extra stuff might be of benefit to someone in someway.

I also like to browse there.  It's dangerous, and I've never let it become a habit, but Tuesday morning I needed a pick me up after going out for lab work (never a pleasant duty) in the pouring rain.

Boy am I glad I did!

Ta da!

I found four pieces of Corningware!  We have other pieces of Corningware like the wildflower dishes in the blue flower and "spice of life" patterns and they are the most used dishes in our home.  I've never owned any of the Vision cookware, and nearly squeed when I saw it on the shelf.  I remember seeing the ads as a kid and thinking how cool it was. . .and now I own two pieces!

 The larger one is the bottom part of a double boiler and the smaller one fits nicely enough in the big one that the two could be used as a double boiler, should I ever need one.

I used the large one as a mixing bowl last night and it was fantastic!

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St. John enjoyed the last paper lantern so much we bought him some more to play with.  Tuesday night's play session was inside the laundry basket, which made it twice as much fun!

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Spent literally all night cross-stitching.  Am just heading to bed now, but my frames are done just in time!  The first set of patterns for the Summer Sampler will be released tomorrow and now I am ready!

It's not the best lighting, so it's hard to appreciate the colors.  I chose a beige Aida, and the frames resemble lemon and orange sherbet.  The beige really brings out the frame colors.  I can't wait to see what the first set of patterns will be!